On this day...

Posted at16:523 Apr

On this day in 2016, England suffered last-over heartbreak in
the final of the World Twenty20 as Carlos Brathwaite clubbed Ben Stokes for four successive sixes to seal an unforgettable West
Indies win at Eden Gardens.

'I want to be back running on the track next year'

James Ellington (left) and Nigel Levine were part of a bigger group of British sprinters training in Spain

Briton James Ellington is hoping to return to training at the end of the year following the motorbike crash that almost killed him.

The 31-year-old 100m and 200m sprinter suffered broken legs and a broken pelvis.

His fellow athlete Nigel Levine, who was riding the motorbike, was also badly
injured.

He told The Guardian:
"I want to be back running on the track next year. I want to be in winter
training by December.

"If you genuinely believe, then within reason you can do pretty much anything.
If there aren't any residual bad injuries, I've no doubt I'll come back. My
genetics and cells haven't changed. I will heal. I will get strong again."

Another ex-football chief banned

Posted at16:323 Apr

Former Guatemalan football chief
Brayan Jimenez has been banned from the sport for life for
offences which included "bribery and corruption", Fifa's ethics
committee said on Monday.

Jimenez - a former member of a Fifa committee for fair
play and social responsibility - was among several officials who were indicted in the United States in 2015,
as world football's governing body was investigated by both US and Swiss authorities on allegations of corruption.

Recap: Watch teary Thompson's terrible tale

Posted at16:143 Apr

LPGA: Lexi Thompson loses out after controversial TV replay

American Lexi Thompson receives a four-stroke penalty while leading the final round of the first major of the season - and then loses the play-off to So Yeon Ryu - after a TV replay showed her incorrectly replacing a ball.

Thompson was leading the ANA Inspiration by two shots when told of the penalty after her 12th hole.

Thompson appeared to put a marker at the side of her ball on the 17th green before lifting it and replacing in front of the marker prior to a putt of less than two feet.

The LPGA said she "breached Rule 20-7c (playing from wrong place), and received a two-stroke penalty. She incurred an additional two-stroke penalty under Rule 6-6d for returning an incorrect scorecard in round three."

FA council backs reform proposals

The Football Association council votes to unanimously support the board's
governance reform proposals at the annual general meeting on 18 May.

The key reforms:

A reduction in the size of the board from 12 members to 10, with three
members each from the amateur and professional game, two independents and the
FA's chairman and chief executive.

Three of those board positions will be held by women from 2018.

Eleven new members will be added to the FA council to boost representation
for ethnic minorities, the disabled community, fans groups and women's football

All council members must be active in the organisations they are elected or
nominated to represent, ending the appointment of any new life or senior
vice-presidents, with existing life or senior vice-presidents losing their
voting rights

A maximum of three three-year terms for any member of the board or council.

Lancashire's (and England's) Anderson takes five

Posted at15:413 Apr

PA

England paceman James Anderson took 5-10 in 11 overs as Lancashire bowled out Cambridge MCCU for 62 runs - 276 runs adrift of the county side's first-innings score.

The first round of County Championship matches sees Anderson and ex-England skipper Alastair Cook - England's leading Test wicket-taker and run-scorer respectively - face each other when the Red Rose travel to Essex in the Division One clash, starting on Friday.

'Belief is the most important thing in football'

Mauricio Pochettino has played down Tottenham's title hopes, but says nothing is impossible.

Spurs are seven points behind leaders Chelsea with nine games left to play.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday's game at Swansea, Pochettino said:

"We reduced the gap by three points but it's still a big gap, seven is a
massive difference.

"In football all can happen. That's a good reason for all - belief is the most important thing in football
- not only quality, running or being strong. Belief, faith and fight. Nothing is
impossible in football and that is our idea, our philosophy."

No more twists in Premier League title race - Shearer

When you are chasing the title and you lose at home,
like Chelsea did on Saturday,
then you want the chance to respond straight away and prove it was a blip.

Blues boss Antonio Conte will want a reaction from his side when they play Manchester City on Wednesday and there is probably no better opposition for them to go out and show everyone that they are back on track.

It is a huge game for City as well, but not in terms of them catching the leaders - I would be amazed if Pep Guardiola's side won the title now.

I don't think City's top-four place is in serious danger despite three successive draws but, because of how much they have spent and who their manager is, they simply have to qualify for next season's Champions League. They cannot really afford to lose.

Umbrellas at Augusta?

Surely it'll be your usual warm and sunny Augusta by Thursday when the first men's golf major of the season tees off?

Here's the good news...

BBC Sport brings you extensive live coverage of the Masters

The world's best players including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Henrik Stenson will be taking on the tricky Augusta course in a bid to win the coveted Green Jacket.

The key action on Saturday and Sunday will be shown live and uninterrupted on BBC Two, while there will be highlights of the first and second rounds.

You can also listen to all four days on BBC Radio 5 live, while live text coverage on the BBC Sport website will also help you keep up to date, with easy access to video streams, radio commentaries and statistics just a click away.

'We respect this team but I prefer all my players'

"Crystal Palace are a
team big in confidence. They have good physical, technical players. It is a strong team and we need to find the creativity because we know they go fast.

Yohan [Cabaye] is a good player. He can play very well with this team and can work for the team. He is at a good level in this moment and we can see the real level of him.

We respect this team but I prefer all my players. We have all the qualities and we have a lot of respect for this team but it is important to think about our play. We lacked intensity against Bournemouth and it is important to find a solution."

Gabbiadini to miss Palace game

Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini is not available for Wednesday's game with Crystal Palace.

When asked about whether now is the time for strikers Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez to step up, Claude Puel said:

"They can have game time. It's interesting for them and it's important for the team. The team is not just strikers. I spoke about Shane and Jay but other players can score on this team. We need a performance from all the players, not just one or two.

'Even I couldn't tell you England's starting XI'

It might be stating the obvious, but naming England's
Euro 2017 squad early has gone down well with the 23 players Mark Sampson has
selected.

Manchester City defender Lucy Bronze says she is
sympathetic to those who've missed out with the Spring Series season still to
come but has questioned how many big games there will be which will emulate the
Euros.

She also denies there will be complacency among the squad
now they know their places are secure.

She says: "If you get complacent between now and the
Euros, you won't play. Even I couldn't tell you England's starting XI.

"Mark likes to pick specific people for specific
games and if you become complacent in the squad, you're knocking your chances
of playing."

Pochettino fears Winks out for season

It appears that Harry Winks' stellar season has come to an abrupt end.

The English 21-year-old midfielder was taken off on a stretcher in the first half of
Spurs' 2-0 win at Burnley
after injuring his ankle when he fell into the dugout.

In the build-up to Wednesday's match against Swansea, Pochettino said: "It will be difficult for him to play again this season.

"He has done scans and after that we will see what the real problem is. We hope it is no big issue but he twisted his ankle and now we need to see what happened. We need to see the results of the scan and then to start his recovery."

'We strive to win every game'

Leicester are yet to lose since sacking Claudio Ranieri.
Here's more from Craig Shakespeare:

"We strive to win every game and the next game is Sunderland. Last time was a close game and I expect it to be close tomorrow.

“They’re dangerous opposition. Any team with Defoe in it is. We have to be aware of his goal threat and respect our opposition.

“Whether we’re playing a team at the bottom or the top, our goal is the same and that’s to earn three points.

“The team have grown in stature and confidence in the last few games, and Wilfred Ndidi has benefitted from that. Strikers thrive on confidence. Jamie Vardy scored against Liverpool and he hasn’t looked back since.

“Demarai Gray has had to be patient and he took his opportunity really well on Saturday."